International forum aims to 'deliver' on women's issues

First held in London in 2007 and then in Washington in 2010, the third edition of the "Women Deliver" conference marks its first time in Asia.

The conference continues until Thursday at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Hall.

The speakers will include Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; Helen Clark, administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP); Dr Babatunde Osotimehin, executive director of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA); Chelsea Clinton, board member of the William J Clinton Foundation; Reeta Roy, president and CEO of the MasterCard Foundation; Poonam Muttreja, executive director of the Population Foundation of India; and Mu Sochua, Cambodian rights advocate and MP.

The conference aims to be the biggest global conference on girls’ and women’s issues, gathering influential leaders and experts and working to ensure that investment in girls and women remains a global priority in the lead-up to the 2015 Millennium Development Goal (MDG) deadline and beyond.

"Countries across Asia have taken tremendous strides toward expanding access to family planning and reducing maternal mortality in recent years, but much work remains to be done around maternal morbidity, quality of care and reaching the last mile. Some women die during pregnancy and childbirth, while for others, life itself is a living death," said Poonam Muttreja, executive director of the Population Foundation of India. "Women Deliver 2013 will be a critical opportunity to discuss ongoing challenges, share strategies for success and, ultimately, drive continued progress for girls and women everywhere."

The conference will address a number of key issues related to girls and women across the region, including leadership, health, violence against women and education. The first day of the conference will largely focus on investing in women; the second day will concentrate on the unmet global need for family planning; and the third will emphasise the importance of including women in the post-2015 development framework.

Leading regional reproductive and maternal health organisations, including the Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW); Asian Forum of Parliamentarians in Population and Development (AFPPD); local offices of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), UNFPA and UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), will participate.

"Addressing women’s health and empowerment is about human rights and women’s lives," said Mu Sochua. "Now is the time for us to deliver on promises we’ve made to girls and women around the world. We must stand with, fight for and move forward with women."

A day before the conference officially opened, members of the international media gathered to exchange views over challenges regarding the women’s issues. They agreed that ensuring the well-being of girls and women built a strong society. They also exchanged views on encouraging more reports on the issues, especially on topics deemed "taboo" in some societies. The media also agreed that women’s issues are not just women’s problems, but should be treated as social problems. They also urged all parties to get men engaged in taking the challenge.